AI-enabled virtual care and remote monitoring company Biofourmis has launched a chronic condition-management service dubbed Biofourmis Care.

The new specialty care program currently focuses on heart failure, diabetes, hypertension, atrial fibrillation and lipid management.

Using a wearable sensor, patients are remotely monitored by virtual care teams. These teams work with the patient's existing providers to improve medication- and treatment-adherence, find patients who may need support and change interventions as needed. Patients can also contact their care teams via text, phone call or video. 

WHY IT MATTERS 

Chronic diseases, which include conditions like heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer, are common in the U.S. and drive a significant portion of the nation's healthcare costs, according to the CDC. 

Biofourmis said its move into chronic condition management will allow it to serve the entire care continuum, building on its hospital-at-home program and its remote monitoring for post-discharge patients.

"There has been a lot of focus on primary care as value-based care continues to expand; however, our novel virtual specialty care model will have an outsized impact on reducing total cost of care and improving quality of life and health outcomes," Dr. Maulik Majmudar, chief medical officer and cofounder of Biofourmis said in a statement.

"That's because our robust care management platform is augmented by sophisticated software algorithms for medication optimization and supported by a 24/7 clinical care team."

THE LARGER TREND

In 2020, Biofourmis landed $100 million in Series C financing, and acquired Takeda Pharmaceuticals’ Gaido Health, an oncology-focused digital tool, to gain a foothold in cancer care. 

Chronic condition management and support is a popular area in digital health. In January, telehealth platform MDLIVE launched its own health-monitoring program geared toward patients with chronic conditions. It plans to add devices that can transmit metrics like blood pressure or glucose levels directly to its patient portal later this year.

In December, Lyn Health emerged from stealth with the goal of supporting patients with multiple chronic conditions, with a multidisciplinary team of clinicians that connect with patients virtually, coordinate care, assist with medication management and provide behavioral health support.

Cadence, a remote monitoring and virtual care platform that aims to manage conditions like COPD, hypertension, heart failure and Type 2 diabetes, recently scored $100 million in Series B financing, bringing its valuation to more than $1 billion.